South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw has said: “Our Allied Health Professionals are an integral part of our wider health workforce, and are the bedrock of ensuring that people have access to exemplary health and social care across the Northern Ireland Health & Social Care Trusts.

"With the recent announcement that the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) is to take on 48 new paramedics by September 2024, this ties right in with the theme for this year’s AHPs Day which is ‘AHPs in the right place, at the right time, with the right skills’.

“I want to sincerely thank all of the health professionals who play a role within the AHP community and for their commitment to providing excellent care, whilst also paving the way in improving the health and social care services that our society depends on.”

East Antrim MLA Danny Donnelly added: "From podiatrists to dietitians, osteopaths to paramedics, I want to thank AHPs for all that they do, both today on the ground, and proactively for the future of our health and social care services.

"The AHP community are going from strength to strength by championing diverse and inclusive leadership whilst committing to research, innovation and harnessing digital technology to produce better outcomes and patient care models.

"The AHP Strategy has however highlighted the need to train, retain and reform the AHP workforce to keep it fighting fit for the future of health and social care delivery.

"Our AHP colleagues deserve to be celebrated, both today and every day, for their dedication to public health, and for how their work is continuing to transform healthcare here in NI.”